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1966 Map of Palisades Dam

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Palisades Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Palisades Dam stands as the central engineering feat of this Idaho landscape, where the Snake River is transformed into the expansive Palisades Reservoir. The survey captures the infrastructure of the mid-1960s, including the powerplant, substation, and the nearby Palisades Townsite. This era represents a significant period of water management and recreational development in Bonneville County, evidenced by the establishment of the Boat Ramp Campground and the Calamity Guard Sta along the western shore.

The terrain is defined by the high ridges of the Targhee National Forest and Caribou National Forest, with prominent landmarks like Calamity Point and Sheep Creek Peak overlooking the water. Numerous drainage systems, such as Big Elk Creek and Bear Creek, feed into the reservoir from deep canyons. The map also records early human footprints in the backcountry via a network of pack trails and jeep trails that navigate through Coyote Hollow and Bear Wallow Canyon.